Category: News

Pest of the Month February 2010 – Nettle Caterpillar

 Hosts:  Over 45 species of plants in 22 families.  Monocots preferred over dicots.  Common in palms, various grasses, ti leaf, iris, and most lilies including mondo.  Range: Most of east side of BigIsland, Kona district and Kohala district; Oahu (Central Oahu, Waimanalo, Waialua); and Maui (Haiku, Paia, Makawao, Wailuku, and Kihei) Symptoms:  Heavily damaged leaves, …

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Pest of the Month January 2010 – Sooty Mold

Hosts:  Any plant that hosts phloem-feeding insects and has honeydew on it Range: Throughout the world’s temperate and tropical regions Symptoms:  A black, non-parasitic superficial growth on plant surfaces that can be completely rubbed off with your fingers to reveal healthy plant tissue Spread through: airborne sooty mold spores Control: management is only warranted when …

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Pest of the Month November 2009 – Coconut Leafroller

Hosts:  Coconuts, bananas, native Pritchardias Range: All major Hawaiian Islands. More prevalent in windswept areas, possibly due to wind interference with parasitoids. Believed to be endemic to Hawaii. Symptoms:  Young larvae feed on underside of leaves beneath a protective thin web of silk. They leave the opposite epidermis intact. As they get older, they feed …

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Pest of the Month October 2009 – Phytophthora cinnamomi

Hosts:  Numerous, including koa, ohia,Norfolk pine, Eucalyptus sp., macadamia nut, hala, avocado, and strawberry guava Range: Hawaii, and most of the rest of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America, Central America, Caribbean, Micronesia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea) Symptoms:  primarily root rot in Hawaii plants, leading to dieback and death.  …

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Pest of the Month August 2009 – Phytophthora Heart Rot

Hosts:  Primarily affects coconut palms (Cocos nucifera) Symptoms:  Loss of young fruits, brown mottling on immature and mature green fruits, heart rot of plant evident when youngest spear leaf dies, leaf death, death of palm Spread:  Via movement of infected nuts and palms, pruning with contaminated equipment, insects, rodents, wind-driven rain Control: Remove and incinerate …

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Pest of the Month July 2009 – Cassytha filiformis

Hosts: Mainly woody species including native and naturalized coastal hosts such as tree heliotrope, beach naupaka, ohia lehua, noni, and hala.  Habitat:  Primarily coastal areas, all major islands except Kaho’olawe.  Requires full sun. This species is indigenous toHawaii. Effects: Parasitic.  Infections can be fatal to host species. Treatment/prevention: (1)  Remove (prune) infected limbs as early …

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Pest of the Month June 2009 – Naio Thrips

Hosts: Many species of Myoporum will likely be susceptible.  In Hawaii, naio thrips have been observed attacking both the prostrate (naio papa) and upright forms of the indigenous Myoporum sandwicense. Distribution: Northwestern part of the Island of Hawaii. Damage: Severe gall-like distortion of the new leaves and terminals. Stunting of terminal growth and leaf curling …

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Pest of the Month May 2009 – Hawaiian Mistletoes

Hosts: Native hardwoods Distribution:  Varies by species – see table p. 3 of source document Management: Prune affected branches and destroy them (do not use as mulch).  Limit management to high-value forestry or landscape settings since these plants have a useful part in Hawaii‘s ecosystem. Source: Hawaiian Mistletoes (Korthalsella Species), Dr. Scot Nelson and Dr. …

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Pest of the Month March 2009 – Red Palm Mite (Pest Alert)

Description: Red Palm Mite (RPM) is a bright red mite with long body hairs, usually with a drop of liquid at the tip of the hair. The body is flat. Range: Native to tropical and subtropical southeast Asia and the Middle East. Expanded range includes Caribbean Islands and Florida. Pathways: Extremely easy to spread. Can …

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Pest of the Month February 2009 – Stem Bleeding of Coconut

Cause: Chalara paradoxa, a mainly soilborne plant-pathogenic fungus Hosts: Areca catechu, Barhea edulis, Caryota spp., Cocos nucifera, Elaeis guineensis, Phoenix africanus, Phoenix canariensis, Phoenix dactylifera, Raphis sp., Roystonea elata, Sabal palmetto, Sygarus romanzoffinia, Washingtonia filifera Symptoms:  black stain coming from a hole or wound and seeping down the coconut stem Management: Prevention and avoidance – don’t …

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